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One of the vibration motors in the DualShock 2 - Image courtesy Dan's Data
PS3 may soon be getting good vibrations

The lack of rumble force feedback in the SIXAXIS PS3 controller is a disappointment for gamers and developers alike. Sony said it felt that rumble was technology of gaming past, and that its motion sensing technology is the future.

Sony positions the two controller technologies as mutually exclusive, though Nintendo has proven that both can coexist with its Wii Remote. Industry insiders, however, point to Sony’s legal tiff with Immersion, who has patent claim on vibrating controllers, as the main reason for the SIXAXIS omission.

News of a Sony and Immersion truce emerged on March 1, and opened the door for PlayStation 3 to someday regain some of its shake. While Sony tends to remain very tightlipped when it comes to future products, SCEA CEO Jack Tretton said in an interview with GamePro that he’s “open to changing the Sixaxis controller.”

“We used to have a narrow approach to controllers. If you really wanted to [move outside the standard controller], we left it up to third party manufacturers,” Tretton told the magazine. “But now we're moving to a regional approach. You will see peripherals coming from SCEA that will address the interests of the U.S. consumer. I don't have anything to tell you specifically, but we're certainly open to changing the Sixaxis controller if it addressed North American gamers.”

The formation of an agreement between Sony and Immersion may not have immediate impact on products on the market today. It’s unlikely that Sony paid the settlement just to use vibration into its PlayStation 4 or PSP 2. For that reason, many are expecting to see rumble products in the current generation.

Following the conclusion of litigation, Immersion CEO Victor Viegas said, “Our new business agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment is specifically intended to enable advanced vibration capability for the benefit of the PlayStation gaming community. We are happy to provide our technology in this regard and hope to make technical proposals very soon with respect to use of our technology in the PlayStation products.”

Kazuo Hirai, President and Group COO of SCEI, also reverberated intentions to bring Immersion-enabled products to Sony products. “We are very excited about our new partnership with Immersion and the potential for new and innovative products incorporating their technologies,” Hirai said.

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By xphile on 3/8/2007 9:53:28 PM , Rating: 2
“But now we're moving to a regional approach. You will see peripherals coming from SCEA that will address the interests of the U.S. consumer. I don't have anything to tell you specifically, but we're certainly open to changing the Sixaxis controller if it addressed North American gamers.”

No offense at all intended to you American gamers - but what the hell is it in these Sony exec's heads that continuously makes them come out with this rubbish. If an American gamer is going to like having a controller with vibration why not a European gamer or an Australasian gamer, seems last time I looked we all had 2 eyes, 2 ears and 2 hands as well.

Surely its a global marketplace and when you are a global company with a global product you are very very careful to make global comments when they have global implications.

Just why the hell is it that not a day can go by without someone senior at Sony saying something really quite stupid? It's probably the same reason we gamers in the same other areas have to pay more to get a stripped down version of the same PS3. Because Sony really care about their customers and what they might think of them. Yeah right.

And ok good on Sony if they reverse their earlier statement, we'd like to have a vibrating controller so that's good - but why all the crap? They are only proving what we all already knew anyway that rumble was excluded for legal reasons and not as they said because they didn't think anyone really wanted it. We are so used to this kind of fluff now the only ones that believe nobody sees the truth are the Sony PR team themselves - and thats only because they've said so many mistruths they've brainwashed themselves.

Why not just come out and say hey ok we can legally use it now, we couldn't before, so anyway now we're going to add it back. Wow talk about an actual credibility boost if they just FOR ONCE started doing some real straight talking. If I ran my business with such obvious disregard for what my words were saying about my global company's valuation of my global customers I'd be thankful I had any customers left at all.




By PreOmegaZero on 3/8/2007 10:25:56 PM , Rating: 2
I don't know how many times Sony has to disrespect non-US gamers/customers before they get the hint. Maybe they never will. Guess we'll have to wait 2-4 weeks after the Euro launch to see if Europe is still 'Sony country'


By someguy123 on 3/8/2007 10:32:53 PM , Rating: 3
well, only the minority of gamers ever really see these comments made, and at the same time you HAVE to buy the ps3 for the huge (mgs4 FF RE5 etc) upcoming titles. sony has quite a large amount of good studios on their payroll, however costly the system maybe and however idiotic their spokespersons are.


By otispunkmeyer on 3/9/2007 4:42:04 AM , Rating: 4
perhaps being CEO of sony computer entertainment AMERICA has something to do with his lack of non-US acknowledgement. hes just speaking about and looking after his own area.

im not defending him here, or attacking you, i think this jack guy doesnt know when to shut his mouth and keeps running off large amounts of BS. sometimes i wonder if he's even in the same reality as the rest of us.

but really SCEA dont need to worry to much about the europeans. thats SCEE's job


By Supa on 3/8/2007 10:57:26 PM , Rating: 4
Good point, worth reading for you.

The fact is, most corporations and their marketing or lawyers will just give the best spins in their given situations.

Sadly, very few companies are refreshingly honest and straight forward. In any case, they will be criticized either way.

---


By oTAL (blog) on 3/9/2007 4:27:25 AM , Rating: 2
Seagate's CEO was pretty honest and straightforward and noone I can remember criticized the man, even though he made some pretty bombastic statements... The best one was something like:
Our products aren't changing the world! They are allowing people to buy more stuff and have more porn!

While it is easier if you bend the truth, you can be honest and remain charismatic... Actually, the most charismatic figures in history were as honest as anyone should be...


By fk49 on 3/9/2007 12:21:31 AM , Rating: 2
Well thought you're right about him needing to respect markets around the world, you have to keep in mind that Tretton is head of SCEA, Sony Computer Entertainment of America, and that his main concern is the market in North America.

But of course, I could see the same half-witted comments coming from Phil Harrison or just about anyone within Sony these days.


By nurbsenvi on 3/9/2007 5:49:48 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
last time I looked we all had 2 eyes, 2 ears and 2 hands as well


LOL ahahahh

I can understand SONY ignoring and neglecting Australians (me Aussie) but Europeans? I just can't understand Europe is bigger market than American market so where are they coming from?


By lukasbradley on 3/9/2007 9:24:42 AM , Rating: 1
xphile,

I ask again, do you own a PS3? This is the second time you've been first to jump all over a Sony PS3 thread with negative commentary.

Where does all your negative energy come from? Do you feel cheated by a Sony product?

Please don't hide behind a veil of "I just get angry at ALL international corporate buffoonery." If that were true, you would be bashing all corporations, and have no time for work.

So, why are you so critical of Sony?


By Serenade on 3/9/2007 10:04:24 AM , Rating: 2
With regional controllers, you need regional games that take advantage of the extra features of said controllers. I can't see that as a option developers would like.


Is Jack Tretton retarded?
By ninjit on 3/8/2007 9:07:01 PM , Rating: 3
Personally I think the PS3 is a good machine, I liked the idea behind the cell processor, the ability to run linux, allowing owners to put whatever laptop harddrive they liked into it, etc.

But as a company Sony seems to have made a couple of big blunders in terms of marketing and publicity.

And this Tretton guy keeps putting his foot in his mouth, how come he hasn't been given the boot yet?

Anyone else notice his resemblance to Tom Arnold?




RE: Is Jack Tretton retarded?
By someguy123 on 3/8/2007 10:25:31 PM , Rating: 2
if sony gave people the boot for doing stupid things or making idiotic comments Ken Kutaragi would have been fired after going ridiculously over budget with the ps3.


By Wolfpup on 3/9/2007 10:45:11 AM , Rating: 2
I'd like to see a corded PS3 controller. I *HATE* wireless pads, and switched to a corded pad on my 360 within a week.

The PS3's wireless system is even more irritating than the 360's.

And I don't need a wireless pad since I don't keep my game systems in the basement or something...




Jack
By sprockkets on 3/9/2007 11:26:33 AM , Rating: 2
"The trick is to quit while you are still ahead."




I'm guessing theres not many comments because..
By Rampage on 3/8/07, Rating: -1
By Alpha4 on 3/8/2007 9:54:27 PM , Rating: 2
I'm guessing its because people are finally losing interest in this outmoded technology.


RE: I'm guessing theres not many comments because..
By Alpha4 on 3/8/2007 10:01:29 PM , Rating: 2
Allow me to clarify actually...

The technology is not worth its weight (both literally & figuratively) because it's a very basic form of output in terms of how binary it is. It's either in an 'on' state (vibrating) or an 'off' state (unmoving). If a game really needs to convey that much data they can put a small dot in any corner of the screen that flashes two colors. In my opinion if someone is pleased by the physical sensation the vibrations provide than they can purchase a vibrating chair.


By oTAL (blog) on 3/9/2007 4:35:12 AM , Rating: 2
That depends on implementation... It's a vibrating motor, so you can build it to vibrate with whatever strength you wish within predefined boundaries...
For example, you could make it vibrate extremely slowly for thrilling moments in horror survival games.... and then blow up in heart beat style vibrations when shit happened... You can use this tech in many ways to give a pleasant feedback to users. It's a great tech when used correctly and it can implemented without much weight added (see cell phones...).


By Wolfpup on 3/9/2007 10:50:06 AM , Rating: 2
I agree with Alpha 4. IMO vibration just isn't worth much. The only game I can think of that really used it well was the first Metal Gear Solid on the Playstation 1. Since then I can't really think of anything. I normally shut it off after a while (and also play a lot of games where it makes no sense, like RPGs).

The N64 Zelda used it to locate secrets...but that could have been done just as easily with an audio or visual cue on screen.

I'm sure there's more examples of it done well, but we've had it for at least a decade, I play games constantly, and I can only think of a single game that actually uses it well...not too great a track record IMO...


By Zoomer on 3/9/2007 11:24:10 AM , Rating: 2
Fatal Frame used it to good effect, since it's a horror game. :)


An apology to Xbox 360 owners.
By somegeek on 3/8/07, Rating: -1
RE: An apology to Xbox 360 owners.
By Url on 3/8/2007 10:54:14 PM , Rating: 2
How does that even apply here?


"People Don't Respect Confidentiality in This Industry" -- Sony Computer Entertainment of America President and CEO Jack Tretton

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